Theodor miller



(No Model.)

T. MILLER. TONGUE FOR SVTRINGLESS PIANOS. No. 471,188. Patent-ed Mar. 22, 1892.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Q. WK.

BY m

ATTORNEY s;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODOR MILLER,'OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

TONGUE FOR STRINGLESS PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,183, dated March 22, 1892.

Application filed October 20, 1891- Serial No. 09,242. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODOR MILLER, of New York city, New York, have invented an Improved Tongue for Stringless Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved construction of the tongues used in stringless pianos and which are struck by the hammer to produce the sound.

The invention consists in the various features of improvement more fully pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tongue; Fig. 2, an elevation thereof. Figs. 8, 4, and 5 are sections respectively on lines a: 00, 3 y, and 2' 2', Fig. 2.

The letter a represents the body of a springsteel tongue, which is thickened at one end to form an integral steel shoulder co. This shoulder is provided with the usual perforations by which the tongue is secured in place within the piano. The body or reed a and the shoulder a are flush along one face, while a step or oifset is formed at their junction in the other face, as shown. By making the tongue in one piece with the shoulder and not in two parts soldered together I retain the temper of the steel, which is apt to be impaired by the soldering operation.

Moreover,

the manufacture of the tongues is simplified and a very clear tone is produced. The edges a of the tongues a are beveled from the shoulder a to the point, as shown. This stiffens the tongues and improves the tone. At the tip the tongue at is thickened, as at a the thickened end being formed by gradually curving the inner face of the tongue outward, as in Fig. 1. In this way the tongue is weighted at the end, and its vibrations under an equal hammer-stroke will be multiplied, which in turn causes an increased volume of tone.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. A tongue for string-less pianos, consisting of a steel reed and an integral steel shoulder, which are flush along one face, while a step is formed at their junction in the other face, substantially as specified.

2. A tongue for stringless pianos, formed of a steel body having beveled edges a and of an integral steel shoulder, substantially as specified.

8. A tongue for stringless pianos, formed of a steel body and an integral steel shoulder, the body having beveled edges (0 and a thick ened tip a substantially as specified.

THEO. MILLER.

Witnesses:

A. J ONGHMANS, F. v. BRIESEN. 

